'Mutiny on the Bounty' - High-Def Digest Review

[jed]

We just posted Peter's review of 'Mutiny on the Bounty' on HD DVD. This one looks like another winning restoration from Warner -- great audio and video, although the film iteslf and a somewhat slim set of supplements don't quite raise this one to the level of a 'Casablanca' or 'The Searchers.' Regardless, for lovers of the American epic, it's definitely worth a look.

Full review here:
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/mutin...ounty1962.html

[Glenmulder]

i agree it is a great disc

[Maxx_75]

Did he say that the Captain and the First Mate had sexual tention ? That seems like a stretch to me. Just because Brando's charater was a bit of a metro-sexual doesnt mean that he was gay. He appeared at the beginning of the movie with 2 women.

[jgantert]

Another great HD DVD, but I do agree, a few brief scenes were not re-mastered very well. All in all, tho, a good release.

[eNoize]

Not only an excellent film which took advantage of Ultra Panavision 70, but also makes an incredible transfer demonstrating what HD DVD can do! This movie will soon be purchased and used as demo material to prove the quality of the format.

[Spitfire IX]

I recently netflixed this title. Having not seen it for several years, i was stunned by the extraordinary visual quality of the film. However, I think Peter read a bit too much into the sexualities of Howard and Brando. He says of Howard's Bligh:

Howard is surprising in his sexual ferocity, especially in a era when the Hayes Code was crumbling but still acted as a creative strait-jacket. His Bligh seems to delight not only in the hedonism of Tahiti, but almost writhes in sadomasochistic pleasure at all the whippings and keelhaulings.

I don't see understand he saw Bligh "delighting in the hedonism of Tahiti". He seemed sort of puritanical to me, and eschewed the sexual delights of Tahiti, preferring to stay on board alone. When a young midshipmen introduces Bligh to the young Tahitian cutie with whom he has fallen in love, Bligh tells him to "get that slut off my ship!". When Bligh has to order Christian to "make love to the chief's daughter", he was ill at ease and embarrassed. I cannot say that Bligh ever writhed in "saddomasochistic pleasure", during the punishments. He seemed to be obsessed with completing the mission on time, and blamed every setback as someone else's mistake, so he punished severely.

Brando was not much playing a homosexual or a metrosexual, but a foppish aristocrat. He did sort of overplay it, but IMO he was mainly tring to empahisize the social gulf between himself and Bligh. the more Bligh hinted at the foppishness and idleness of "gentlemen", the more Christian seemed to needle Bligh for not having the proper bearing of a gentleman. Indeed, when Bligh gets back and has his hearing at his court martial, even the admiral seems a tad foppish (played by Henry Daniell, how could he be otherwise?).

Anyway, the movie is a visual feast. After netflixing, I immediately ordered it. Had to hurry while HD DVD media is still available!

[docmanjay2]

just wanted to bring this gem back out into the light!!!

finally got around to watching some the movies i bought over the last 3 months...and this was one of them..amazing picture and sound...good acting for the time period...i think this is a must own for any serious movie buff....now i hope someone bring out the hopkin and mel gibson version...great watch also

[shanester]

Originally Posted by docmanjay2

just wanted to bring this gem back out into the light!!!

finally got around to watching some the movies i bought over the last 3 months...and this was one of them..amazing picture and sound...good acting for the time period...i think this is a must own for any serious movie buff....now i hope someone bring out the hopkin and mel gibson version...great watch also

Agreed 100%. I was blown away how good it looked. The shots when they first land in Tahiti are breath taking. The vegetation and ocean look like something you would see in one of those travel brochures.
The scene when there all dancing the hoola in front of the Captain and Brando was really hot too!!!

This is one of my favourite hd discs I own so far